(seafood.com) Prices of seasonal flying squid are cheap this year backed by robust catch in the Sea of Japan, with squid attracting popularity at fresh fish stores amid present market where prices of many fish are on the rise.
Catch of squid usually goes into full swing from around mid-July centering on northern Japan.
This year, landings are going at a smooth pace in the Sea of Japan off Aomori and Hokkaido Prefectures.
The average daily squid receipts at Tokyo's Tsukiji Fish Market in July stood at around 40 tons, nearly 20% larger than a year earlier.
A wholesaler at the market observed that one carton with 20 squid (weighing about 5 kg) was priced at around Y1,500--20% lower than last year, registering a near low in the past several years.
This summer, retail prices of eel soared due to the poor harvests of larvae, and the prices of saury and tunas are also on an increase.
This made squid prices attractive to consumers. The retail price of somewhat larger-size squid in the Tokyo metropolitan area late in July stood at Y140 per head. In the case of small size squid or special sales, the prices often slip below Y100.
A marketing official of a medium-scale supermarket said that usually flying squid is not a big attraction, but this year it has become an important commodity which can be provided at reasonable prices.
According to forecast by the Fisheries Research Agency, large-size squid will increase from August, and landings exceeding ordinary year's level can be expected.